AFP
Shenzhen (China)
Late entry Kiki Bertens on Tuesday stunned world number one Ashleigh Barty with a comeback three-set victory to shake-up the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen.
All four players in the Red Group can still qualify for the semi-finals, after Belinda Bencic’s three-set victory over Petra Kvitova in the later match.
Bertens looked in deep trouble at a set and a break down, but turned the tide with ruthless returning and aggressive play at the net to overwhelm a deflated Barty, who could have sealed a spot in the semis with a win.
Bertens – the world No.10 who was a late replacement for an injured Naomi Osaka – won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes in a see-saw match featuring 12 breaks of serve.
Osaka, the world number three, withdrew from the round-robin tournament earlier in the day due to a shoulder injury.
"Of course you’re always ready to play, but I did not see it coming today,” Bertens said of her late call-up.
"In the beginning, I was struggling. As the match continued, I felt better and better.”
In the later match, Bencic fought back from a second set spiral to beat Kvitova 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in one hour and 47 minutes.
It kept her tournament hopes alive after she had lost her opening match to Barty. "I was proud that I was able to block away her big shots,” Bencic said.
Shenzhen (China)
Late entry Kiki Bertens on Tuesday stunned world number one Ashleigh Barty with a comeback three-set victory to shake-up the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen.
All four players in the Red Group can still qualify for the semi-finals, after Belinda Bencic’s three-set victory over Petra Kvitova in the later match.
Bertens looked in deep trouble at a set and a break down, but turned the tide with ruthless returning and aggressive play at the net to overwhelm a deflated Barty, who could have sealed a spot in the semis with a win.
Bertens – the world No.10 who was a late replacement for an injured Naomi Osaka – won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes in a see-saw match featuring 12 breaks of serve.
Osaka, the world number three, withdrew from the round-robin tournament earlier in the day due to a shoulder injury.
"Of course you’re always ready to play, but I did not see it coming today,” Bertens said of her late call-up.
"In the beginning, I was struggling. As the match continued, I felt better and better.”
In the later match, Bencic fought back from a second set spiral to beat Kvitova 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in one hour and 47 minutes.
It kept her tournament hopes alive after she had lost her opening match to Barty. "I was proud that I was able to block away her big shots,” Bencic said.